The United States military is requesting assistance from contractors in transferring maritime vessels utilized in the problematic Gaza pier operation back to the U.S.
"Organization is being set for the return of the landing craft utility ships on contracted Float-On/Float-Off ships, estimated to happen around late October," mentioned Col. Mary Ricks to CNN on a recent day. The military hasn't secured a deal for this assignment yet, she added.
Three boats were sent out in March for this operation: the US Army Vessels Monterrey, Matamoros, and Wilson Wharf. Initially, the Pentagon planned to have all personnel and equipment utilizing the temporary pier – named Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) – back home by mid-September.
It's uncertain how much the contract for bringing the vessels back will cost the military. A representative from Military Sealift Command informed CNN that the contract is currently in the bidding process. Retired Marine Corps Col. Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at CSIS International Security Program, speculates the contract could cost $300,000 per float-on/float-off vessel for transporting the three boats, making it a potential $600,000 total if two vessels are needed.
The temporary pier was unveiled by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address in March.
"A temporary pier will allow for a substantial rise in daily humanitarian aid getting to Gaza," Biden stated.
However, the pier was operational for just around 20 days at a cost of $230 million and failed to significantly improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as the conflict between Hamas and Israel, with tragic consequences for thousands of civilians, continues.
Deputy Commander of US Central Command, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, stated in July that the pier helped deliver 19.4 million pounds of aid to Gaza's desperate population.
Following the mission's conclusion, officials reported that humanitarian aid would now be delivered from Cyprus through Israel's Ashdod port to Gaza. About 6 million pounds of aid remain in Cyprus on the Motor Vessel Cape Trinity, waiting for transportation to Gaza.
A former chief engineer on Army watercraft told CNN that the ships being returned by contracted vessels probably require significant maintenance.
"The only reasons the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) wouldn't be sailing are mechanical problems or manpower issues," the retired engineer said. "Unless the whole unit is deploying somewhere, that means these boats are in bad shape."
A contract description available to the public suggests Military Sealift Command is seeking float-on/float-off vessels capable of transporting the ships from Rota, Spain, to Norfolk, Virginia, by at least November 5th. As of Wednesday, ship tracking data showed the boats were near Greece.
It's relatively common for the US military to use float-on/float-off vessels to transport smaller ships over long distances or if a US military vessel is severely damaged, according to Cancian. He added that it's "reasonable" that the boats may not be in a state to make the journey back after their work on the pier operation.
"They'd probably manage it, but once again, it's a matter of risk," he said. "They don't want one to break down halfway and drift around."
Maintenance of Army's vessels was a concern throughout the mission of the temporary pier, which ended in July. A US official told CNN earlier that the watercraft utilized in the mission have not been maintained "to the degree they need to be," primarily due to "lack of funding to get the repair parts in a timely manner."
The pier mission caught the attention of Pentagon and USAID inspectors general, who launched coordinated reviews of the humanitarian mission to Gaza in June. The Pentagon's inspector general announced a separate probe just a few weeks ago, separate from the joint review with USAID. A memo dated August 5th revealed that the IG office would conduct a "comprehensive assessment" of the Pentagon's "capabilities to effectively carry out" operations and exercises using JLOTS. The memo was first reported by Military.com.
This has presented an additional challenge for one of the larger Army vessels planning to depart soon. A defense official stated that one of the logistics support vessels, the Charles P. Gross (LSV-5), requires more maintenance before it can set sail.
Another vessel, the USAV Frank S. Besson (LSV-1), is currently underway and is expected to return to the US by the end of August, according to Ricks. The USAV James A. Loux (LSV-6) is expected to go underway "soon" and reach the US by late September.
Issues with the boats are the latest in an operation that was frequently hit by logistical problems. After only a week of operating in May, the pier fell apart, and four Army vessels were grounded. The military detached it from the beach twice more due to concerns about weather conditions before ending the mission in July.
Since the mission ended, more than 350 soldiers from the assisting unit have returned to Virginia, according to Ricks. Pentagon spokesman Tom Crosson said last week that around 200 sailors on the mission have also returned home. The retired engineer added that 350 soldiers returning home will not affect the unit's ability to sail the boats back.
The potential cost of negotiating a contract for bringing the utility ships back could influence future politics regarding military budgets.
Given the condition of the boats after their mission, politics surrounding maintenance funding for military vessels may become a pressing issue.
